Rug pads?

[dr.girlfriend]

How necessary are rug pads, assuming rugs 8x10 or bigger that won't slip around?  I haven't usually had them, but then again I also have brand new expensive wood floors that I'd like to protect if they are really needed. 

Should I just get them in the living room, where there might be spills, rather than, for example, in the bedroom?  Would the floor ever be damaged just by virtue of having a (nice) rug on it -- woven, no weird backing or anything? 

Any recs for buying rug pages...I see there's some online places that cut them to size and are pretty inexpensive (eRugPads) but I'm open to suggestions.

[hbomdiggity]

I always use them. I don’t recommend the rubbery waffle kind though - I’ve heard those may mark wood. I go with the felt kind and usually buy from overstock.

[calico]

A good rug pad will help make the rug feel more plush and luxurious. I use them primarily for that reason on large rugs.

[Mrs.flang]

I never used them before either but have used them since getting our floors refinished. I never got 100% answer about if they're totally necessary, but they do make the rugs feel really nice. I got these from amazon.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C7FY58C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[dottyblue]

I’d consult your hardwood floor installer on what they recommend for your particular floors.

Definitely do NOT use the waffle weave rubber ones which leave residue on the floor as they break down. Took me over a year of weekly scraping to get that nasty residue off my floors.

[lolalolalola]

Oct 7, 2019 11:30:24 GMT -5 hbomdiggity said:

I always use them. I don’t recommend the rubbery waffle kind though - I’ve heard those may mark wood. I go with the felt kind and usually buy from overstock.

Oct 7, 2019 13:11:00 GMT -5 dottyblue said:

Definitely do NOT use the waffle weave rubber ones which leave residue on the floor as they break down. Took me over a year of weekly scraping to get that nasty residue off my floors.

Thank you! I never knew this, and just bought a waffle one for my back door mat. I'll be switching it for a felt one. 

OP- I have a big (10 x 12) shag carpet and I never put a rug pad below - it was on newly refinished hardwood for 3 years and didn't scratch it when we took it up. 

[Deleted]

I got a rug pad for my runner in the upstairs hall. I got it for two reasons - one, to help keep the rug from shifting, and two, to add a bit of padding to a thin rug. I got THIS ONE but it comes in different thicknesses as well. 

I do not have one under the rug in the bedroom. I will however, likely get them when we redo the floors in the LR/DR and add areas rugs, not so much for the issue of shifting, but more for the extra padding as well as the extra protection when there are spills or pet accidents.

[treedimensional]

Oct 7, 2019 11:30:24 GMT -5 hbomdiggity said:

I always use them. I don’t recommend the rubbery waffle kind though - I’ve heard those may mark wood. I go with the felt kind and usually buy from overstock.

Same, felt from Overstock.